NIFT 2027: Forms Close at the Normal Fee on 16 November, Entrance Exam on 10 January
Published 26/10/2026
In short: The form for the NIFT 2027 entrance exam is open, and the last date at the normal fee is 16 November 2026. The exam is on 10 January 2027. This is for Class 12 students who want to study fashion, textile, accessory or communication design at a National Institute of Fashion Technology campus, and for the families paying the fee and planning the year.
What happened
On 16 October 2026 the National Testing Agency (NTA), which runs the exam for NIFT, opened online applications for the NIFT Entrance Exam (NIFTEE) 2027 on exams.nta.nic.in/niftee. The Information Bulletin says NIFT has 20 full campuses across the country.
The 16 November date is for the regular route: the bachelor's and master's courses and lateral entry. Applying after 16 November is still possible until 21 November, but it costs ₹5,000 more. After that, a correction window opens from 22 to 25 November.
Two groups have later windows. Artisan-category and Ph.D. applicants can register until 31 January 2027. NRI, foreign national, OCI, PIO and SAARC applicants for the bachelor's and master's courses can register until 31 March 2027, and send SAT, GMAT or GRE scores by then. Use the form for your own category on the portal.
Which course, which paper?
This is the first decision, because the two undergraduate courses are judged differently.
- B.Des. (design): a General Ability Test (GAT) on computer, worth 30%, and a Creative Ability Test (CAT) on paper, worth 50%. Students who clear these are called for a hands-on Situation Test, worth 20%, in March or April 2027.
- B.F.Tech. (fashion technology): only the GAT, in two sections. Section A is worth 30% and Section B 70%. Maths in Class 12 is required.
- A student can apply for both in one form. Each course then has its own merit list.
- Wrong answers in the GAT lose a quarter mark, so guessing has a cost.
On exam day the B.Des. GAT runs from 9 to 11 am and the CAT from 3 to 6 pm.
For students
- Decide B.Des., B.F.Tech. or both this week. With Maths and an interest in both, applying for both keeps two doors open.
- Check the age rule. For the bachelor's courses, you must be under 24 years on 1 August 2027. SC, ST and PwD candidates get 5 more years.
- Read the eligibility section in the NIFT Admissions Guidelines 2027 if you are in Class 12 now, to be sure your case is covered before you pay.
- Have your photo and signature ready. The photo must be in colour, on a white background, as a JPG between 10 KB and 200 KB. The signature must be between 10 KB and 50 KB.
- Choose four exam cities from the list in the bulletin. They must be in the state of your permanent or present address.
- Start drawing practice now. The CAT is half of the B.Des. score, and it is done on paper, by hand.
For parents
- The fee. For General, General-EWS and OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates, it is ₹2,000 for one course or ₹3,000 for two. For SC, ST and PwD candidates it is ₹500 or ₹750. Applicants on the separate NRI, foreign national, OCI, PIO and SAARC route pay ₹11,100. Bank charges are extra. On the regular route, paying by 16 November avoids the ₹5,000 late fee.
- Use your own phone number and email on the form, or your child's, never a cybercafé's or an agent's. The admit card and every update will go there.
- Plan the travel. The exam is on a Sunday in January, and the B.Des. day runs from morning to evening. For the Situation Test in spring, one more trip may be needed.
- This is one exam among several. Many design aspirants also write UCEED (for IIT design courses) and NID's entrance. Talk with your child about which ones to take, so the form fees and exam days are planned together.
Key dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| 16 October 2026 | Form opened |
| 16 November 2026 | Last date at the normal fee |
| 21 November 2026 | Last date with ₹5,000 late fee |
| 22 to 25 November 2026 | Correction window |
| 21 December 2026 | Exam city slip |
| 4 January 2027 | Admit card |
| 10 January 2027 | Entrance exam |
| 31 January 2027 | Last date for Artisan and Ph.D. registration |
| March or April 2027 | Situation Test (B.Des.) |
| 31 March 2027 | Last date for the NRI, foreign national, OCI, PIO and SAARC route |
| First week of May 2027 | Final result (as per the bulletin) |
Sources
- NTA public notice: NIFTEE 2027 applications, 16 October 2026, checked 26 October 2026
- NIFTEE 2027 Information Bulletin, NIFT, checked 26 October 2026
- Application portal: exams.nta.nic.in/niftee
Dates can change. Confirm on the official website before you pay or apply.
If a calm look at design courses and which entrances to write would help, more on easyapply.in.